The NBA and NHL continue to ramp up as we move through the year’s first half. With a few big games scheduled, let’s look at how we think three matches will play out.

Denver Nuggets (-5.5) over Detroit Pistons

Our first game of the day takes place between the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets. The Pistons, with a record of 3-15 this season, are also 0-10 on the road. Leading the team in points per game is Bogdan Bogdanovic, who averages 20.5 per game. A big problem is that point guard Cade Cunningham and small forward Saddiq Bey are ruled out.

After a 98-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets are 10-6. At home, they have a 4-1 record, and Nikola Jokic is no longer on the injury list. Look for the Nuggets to take over this game quickly and cover the 5.5-point spread.

Los Angeles Lakers (+7) over Phoenix Suns

This game against the Phoenix Suns will be a good test for the Los Angeles Lakers. They have a record of 5-10 this season and are 0-5 on the road. Some think that they’ll get steamrolled by the Suns but we don’t think that is the case. The Lakers have won their last three games including a 116-103 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

The Phoenix Suns are a good team but they’ve lost three of their last five games. Their most recent loss was to an injured Utah Jazz team. The Lakers have a few players that are sidelined but so do the Suns. Chris Paul has been ruled out along with shooting guard Landry Shamet, go with the Lakers in this one.

Los Angeles Kings (-120) over New York Rangers

In our opinion, this game is pretty clear but we’ll first look at the New York Rangers. The Rangers have a 9-6-4 record with a 5-3-1 record on the road. On average, they’re scoring 2.95 goals per game while allowing just 2.68. They’ve won three of their last five games but have lost a few on the road. Today, they’re facing a pretty strong team who’s also playing at home.

The New York Rangers have a record of 11-8-2 this season with a 6-3-0 record at home. They’re coming off an overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken, 3-2. As a team, they’re scoring 3.14 goals per game and allowing an average of 3.38. Although they’ve given up quite a few goals, we’ll go with the Kings over the Rangers.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.